Improved wash-board



UNITED STATES PATENT QEETCE.

JOHN MINER AND SILAS MERRIGK, OF NEV BRIGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

iMPROVED VVASH-BOARD.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 22,087, dated November 16, lSlS.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that we, JOHN INEE and Sr- LAs MERRICK, of New Brighton, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Construction of Vash-Boards; and we hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of the invention consists in so striking up from sheet metal the usual ribs of a wash-board that there shall be left an entire border or narrow space upon the four sides of the corrugated metal plate that shall be plain, and not corrugated, so that the groove in the wooden frame which receives the four Vedges of the metal plate shall be only of the same thickness as the plain part of the metal plate itself, where such corrugations are made to project equally on both sides of the medial line of the said plate, vand which medial line is .in the same direction, and corresponds with the line ofthe plain border c c, as shown in the drawings hereinafter described.

rPhe strength required to adapt the washboard to Wash on both sides without the aid of a baekdepends on making the crimpingimpressions equally deep on cach face of the plate. This feature of the invention puts the metal upon a strain and enables it to resist the rubbing force with great iirmness.

Figure l represents a plan view of the board; Fig. 2, an edge view of the plate.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the corrugated metal plate; B B D C E, the wooden Aframe-work; G F, the soap-boxes, G being the box used when the present face of the board is up, and F the one that is used when the present face is downward.

The letters c e b b represent the plain border that surrounds the corrugated portion of the metal plate; and d d d the individual eorrugations of the plate, which are seen edge- Wise in Fig. 2. In this figure is seen the part of the plain border c c somewhat in exaggerated proportions. q

It will be understood from the edge view seen in Fig. 2 that this board is designed to be used on either face. It will therefore last twice as long as a board designed to be used only on one side or face. rlhe corrugations of the metallic plate being struck up by dies or molds in hard material give great tension to the metal, putting that part of the sheet along the line of the border where the corrugated portion meet-s the uneorru- 'gated portion npon a strain of the metallic ber, so as to give greater stiffness and strength to the metallic plate of the washboard than could be obtained when the crimped portion is allowed to enter the groove of the wooden frame. Without this mode of crimping the corrugated plate, or something equivalent thereto, the central part of the ribbed portion or" the wash-board is weak and springs badly; but this is ordinarily remedied by a support of wood against the back acting as a brace; but such brace contines the use of the wash-board to one of its sides, while our method of stiffening the plate enables us to use both sides of the board, and thus double the length of time of the wear of a common Wash-board, for it is clear that the great wear of the metal ribs of a wash-board is upon the projecting edges of the ribs, and that consequently the alternations of the corrugations being first on one side and then on the other, the wear on one side of the plate will not aii'ect the wear on the other. The wash-board, therefore, would remain, in consequence of this construction, a valuable and strong implement until the ribs are worn through.

Ve are aware that it is not new to strike up in a mold or die the metal plate of a washboard to make raised and depressed figures in general, or even the rib-work described herein; nor to make a Wash-board capable of being used on both sides; nor yet to make a metallic crimped plate without a support or brace in the back side thereof, but We oontend that it is new to stiien a crimped metallic plate of a wash-board by confining the crimped portion within the frame, so that the plain border only shall be received into the narrow groove of the frame, provided the corrugations or ribs be so formed as to project equally on both sides of the medial line of the plate, so that each side of the plate shall be equally braced by the crimping of the metal, and consequently be equally adapted tral line ol' the corrugated part ol' the plate to washing on both sides. may be in a line with the plain bordel' c c.

We disclaim the general device of making and that the ribs shall project; equally on both a crimped metal Wash-board with a plain borsides, forming two equally good Washingsurder received into a plain groove in a frame; faces, as set forth.

but JOHN MINER.

What We claim as our invention, and desire SILAS MERRICK. to secure by Letters Patent, is- Vitnesses:

So impressing the corrugations equally upon R. D. COOPER, both sides of the plate that the medial or cen- R. B. EDGAR. 

